A-pillar damage
Discussion
Hi all,
A festive story…..
These Xmas decorations were suspended across the main high street in my local market town:
Well, they were suspended for about 4 hours after being put up, before it dropped 15-20 feet onto my car as I was driving underneath it.
Chunky bit of Xmas tat:
Two others also failed, fortunately in the early hours of the morning but that’s another story.
Fair bit of damage to the car as you’d expect.
Headlight, bonnet, windscreen, roof, side mirror ripped off etc.
I think all pretty standard accident repair stuff.
However, what are your thoughts on this A-pillar damage?
Probably not clear in the photo, but it has ‘cracked’ the metal through.
Accident repair place say they can repair this and insurance company have given the go ahead for repairs.
Sure they can ‘repair’ it to look like new, but once they have pulled, welded and beaten it straight, will it have the strength/integrity that Mazda intended?
My concern is that I may only find out in a future major impact/roll over.
It’s a company car, only 6 months old.
Would you be happy to have that repaired and use it for another 4 years/100,000 miles?
Nice car before all this:
…..and at least it wasn’t my other car:
Any thoughts appreciated.
A festive story…..
These Xmas decorations were suspended across the main high street in my local market town:
Well, they were suspended for about 4 hours after being put up, before it dropped 15-20 feet onto my car as I was driving underneath it.
Chunky bit of Xmas tat:
Two others also failed, fortunately in the early hours of the morning but that’s another story.
Fair bit of damage to the car as you’d expect.
Headlight, bonnet, windscreen, roof, side mirror ripped off etc.
I think all pretty standard accident repair stuff.
However, what are your thoughts on this A-pillar damage?
Probably not clear in the photo, but it has ‘cracked’ the metal through.
Accident repair place say they can repair this and insurance company have given the go ahead for repairs.
Sure they can ‘repair’ it to look like new, but once they have pulled, welded and beaten it straight, will it have the strength/integrity that Mazda intended?
My concern is that I may only find out in a future major impact/roll over.
It’s a company car, only 6 months old.
Would you be happy to have that repaired and use it for another 4 years/100,000 miles?
Nice car before all this:
…..and at least it wasn’t my other car:
Any thoughts appreciated.
oldcelica said:
Yes it’s a company car and I’ve got no attachment to it, but as they have approved repair, in about a month I get it back for another 3-4 years.
Should I be concerned and get my employer to say they don’t want it back?
What is their to be concerned about ?Should I be concerned and get my employer to say they don’t want it back?
get it repaired, drive it for the next few years and give it back.
You're over thinking it.
Perhaps I am overthinking it.
That’s the problem being a mechanical design engineer, it’s what I do.
Unfortunately I don’t have access to Mazda’s design intent with regards what the A-pillar is designed to do in the event of a serious impact.
How the forces resolve to deform and redirect these forces to ensure the occupants have the best chance of survival - who knows?
But I guarantee Mazda will have calculated these from first principles, modelling and empirical testing.
Will the repair account for any of this or just make it look new and shiny?
Just looking for opinion from people in the repair trade on how they approach this kind of repair given that getting it wrong could have serious consequence.
Concerned?
Yes I am, hence the post.
That’s the problem being a mechanical design engineer, it’s what I do.
Unfortunately I don’t have access to Mazda’s design intent with regards what the A-pillar is designed to do in the event of a serious impact.
How the forces resolve to deform and redirect these forces to ensure the occupants have the best chance of survival - who knows?
But I guarantee Mazda will have calculated these from first principles, modelling and empirical testing.
Will the repair account for any of this or just make it look new and shiny?
Just looking for opinion from people in the repair trade on how they approach this kind of repair given that getting it wrong could have serious consequence.
Concerned?
Yes I am, hence the post.
It's a dent in the pillar,
a bread and butter repair for any decent panel beater, if you are really worried you could ask to have that section cut out a new piece welded in.
The bonded screen will have a lot of structural integrity, I doubt a skim of filler will weaken the car at all.
It might be that the repairer has put down for a new pillar anyway in which case all is good.
a bread and butter repair for any decent panel beater, if you are really worried you could ask to have that section cut out a new piece welded in.
The bonded screen will have a lot of structural integrity, I doubt a skim of filler will weaken the car at all.
It might be that the repairer has put down for a new pillar anyway in which case all is good.
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